Police chief 'uncomfortable without a body camera'
Fulton County police chiefs will discuss the use of body cameras on officers today. At least one thinks the devices are a great idea, though not the final word on police accountability.
Chattahoochee Hills Police Chief Matt Rook said his seven full-time and eight part-time and reserve officers have used body cameras for two years. Now he can’t imagine not having them.
“When I go somewhere now I feel uncomfortable without a body camera,” Rook said. “It can exonerate me.”
Rook sees body cameras as another tool for the department. But he said they’re not “the end-all, be-all of police accountability.” Strong policies and leaders are still essential, he said.
This afternoon’s meeting will draw more than a dozen chiefs from Atlanta, other cities and other Fulton police agencies. The goal is to find common ground on policies for using the cameras and perhaps apply for federal funding to equip local officers with the devices.
Police body cameras have become a hot topic amid protests over police shootings of unarmed black men from coast to coast.
About the Author
David Wickert writes about the state budget, finance and voting issues. Previously, he covered local government and politics in Gwinnett and Fulton counties. Before moving to Atlanta, he worked at newspapers in Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington.
